My Personal Story

Personal Digital Story Reflection

I enjoyed making my video, but it took a lot of work.

I knew I wanted it to be about my dog, but really about my husband and me, told with pictures of us and things that are important to us.

Many of the pictures that showed the beginning of our marriage were taken on film, so one of my first steps was to find and scan them. I went through the box with John, and we both enjoyed the feelings of nostalgia. At the same time, I started constructing sections of the script. Now that I was looking at the pictures, I was able to group them into logical chunks--food, trips, holidays, the lake and watch some themes emerge--home, family, etc.

I recorded the audio on my iPhone, then imported it to iMovie on my Mac. Using iPhoto, I divided the photos into the groups to be imported into the movie. Now came the trick part: making the pictures fit with the audio.

I am new to Mac (I got mine in July) and video production (I am a former yearbook teacher, not video), and I had some issues getting the timing to do what I wanted. I decided to take a more relaxed approach up front, then tweak the photos' locations at the end.

It worked, and we (John, Lou, and I) are pleased with the outcome.

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool (Harris, Edmonson, & Combs, 2010)

Identify Concerns that must change (look to the future)

1. need for as-needed support 
2. need for collaboration 
3. need for real-world, challenge-based instruction 

Identify Affirmations that must be sustained (look to the present)

1. high TAKS scores 
2. teacher ownership of classroom and student success 
3. low discipline problems 

SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely) Recommendations that must be implemented:

1. Monthly professional development centered around one aspect of 21st Century Instruction in the STaR Chart with follow-up classroom visits to support implementation. 
2. Volunteer inquiry-oriented teacher learning communities, with goal of producing future technology mentors 
3. Robust technology Web site with FAQ, anytime access to help, discussion board, STaR Chart breakdown, tips, forms for input, how-to’s, information from monthly professional development 

EVALUATE – Specifically and Often (Identify the best ways to evaluate the implemented recommendations.)

1. *Level I, participants’ reactions: Interviews/discussion board 
2. *Level II, participants’ learning: discussion/board/surveys 
3. *Level III, organizational support and change: surveys 
4. *Level IV, participants’ use of new knowledge and skills: lesson plans/discussion board/surveys/classroom visits 
5. *Level V, student learning outcomes: artifacts/classroom visits/pictures/videos/benchmarks 
6. Summative: 2011 STaR Chart Results (“District and Campus,” 2003). 

*“Critical levels of professional development evaluation” are formative assessments to guide activities (Guskey, 1998).

References

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2010). Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools: 8 Steps from Analysis to Action. Larchmont, NY: Eye On Education, Inc.

Guskey, T.R. (1998). “The age of our accountability.” Journal of Staff Development, 19(4).